Live blog: Bradley Beal news conference

2:05 p.m. - Bradley Beal at the press conference. He’s flanked by head coach Randy Wittman and president Ernie Grunfeld.

“He’s the type of person we want to build with,” Grunfeld said.

2:08 p.m. - “This is the guy we wanted all along, we we’re lucky enough that he was there for us,” Wittman said.

2:12 p.m. -Bradley Beal said he wanted the Wizards to promise they’d pick him, but they wouldn’t. He said he knows there will be times he will struggle, but he isn’t afraid to ask for help from the team’s veterans.

2:15 p.m. - Beal said he didn’t know if he would leave Florida until the end of the season. He valued his relationship with his Gators teammates and wanted to finish his degree.

2:17 p.m. - Grunfeld said the team was looking for someone who can spread the floor and has outstanding character. He said Beal had both. He believes Beal can play here for a long time.

2:18 p.m. - Beal poses with hi new Wizards jersey. He’ll wear number 3, as 23 was last worn by Michael Jordan. The team presents him with a belated birthday cake. Press conference over.

Original post - A day after he celebrated his 19th birthday by being drafted third overall in the NBA draft, Bradley Beal will be introduced by the Washington Wizards at a 2 p.m. news conference at Verizon Center. (Check in later for live updates.)

(Julio Cortez/AP)

Also on Thursday, Wizards point guard John Wall praised Beal’s outside shot and also his ability to compliment Wall.

Later in Thursday’s draft, the team selected Czech Republic shooting guard Tomas Satoransky. The team does not expect him to join the team this season, instead they’ll retain his rights as he plays professionally overseas.